Lately opened (June 2024) within the opulent Hôtel de Mercy-Argenteau – an 18th century constructing on the Grands Boulevards not removed from Opera, the Faculty of Jewelry Arts is a challenge from grasp jewellers Van Cleef & Arpels, providing momentary exhibitions which can be as tempting as they’re completely free…
With quite a few free museums, nice parks and noteworthy structure in all places, Paris has rather a lot to supply for zero euros, and there are new propositions on a regular basis.
Like this one! A brand new cultural house showcasing attractive jewelry in a formidable constructing, with free entrance (you simply should e-book the time of your go to) – l’École des Arts Joailliers (Faculty of Jewelry Arts)!
We really visited the constructing again in 2013 when it was the brand new dwelling of the Mozilla Basis (they moved out in 2019), however the interiors nonetheless assure a number of jaw-dropping moments, from the grand staircase to the excessive ceilings by the use of the attractive wood flooring (‘Level de Hongrie’ for the connaisseurs amongst you). The constructing was constructed in 1778 but it surely’s a shiny as a diamond-encrusted pin.
And so, after many various makes use of the constructing is now a jewelry faculty, a analysis house with a (very) specialised library devoted to the artwork of jewelry making, and a free exhibition house with one thing new on provide each six months.
Even for those who aren’t a giant fan of jewelry, the house itself is usually old-Parisian and value a glance.
The day of our go to we have been capable of see the exhibition Bijoux de scène (Stage Jewelry) exhibiting creations seen on the stage of the revered Comédie-Française theatre, and the present exhibition is Paris, Metropolis of Pearls with – as you might need guessed – numerous pearls (and fairly a number of diamonds).
What an awesome setting for these extraordinary items…
When exiting the exhibition you’ll arrive in a small boutique with numerous objects and books, however the venue additionally has its personal giant bookshop on the bottom flooring, known as L’Escarboucle, which might be accessed from the road and is thus open to all. Right here you’ll discover an enormous vary of books about jewelry, most likely greater than you thought existed.
So you will have till 1st June 2025 to catch the present exhibition Paris, Metropolis of Pearls (click on to e-book), and you will get a sneak peak with the visible information right here.
Oh, and hardcore jewelry followers can take heed to the college’s podcast, out there in English right here!
The Faculty of Jewelry (right here) is open day-after-day besides Monday from 11am-7pm (9pm Thursdays)
Closed 1st, eighth and twenty ninth Could 2025
Free guided excursions (French solely) for adults on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 3.15pm and 4.15pm, and Thursdays at 6.15pm and seven.15pm
Free entrance, e-book right here
Web site / Fb / Instagram / YouTube
What3Words ///infants.pirates.tutored
